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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Burkina Faso

Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Flexible Start
Grant Length
6-9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Burkina Faso aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Burkina Faso. 

Grant Length
6-9 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

Fulbright grants will begin between August 2025 and March 2026, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou.

Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation

As a condition of their grant, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2025.

Candidate Profile

Prior research experience in the proposed grant field is highly preferred.

Graduate-level candidates may wish to consider teaching courses at the University of Ouagadougou or any other private university in the country as a supplement to their research projects on a volunteer basis.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

TEST

Eligibility
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Intermediate

Additional information: French language proficiency is necessary, not only for the development of the proposed project, but also in order to integrate successfully and communicate on a daily basis. Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline

It is the applicant's responsibility to secure affiliation with an appropriate local institution. Applicants must identify appropriate institutions for their projects and include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications.

To arrange affiliation with the University of Ouagadougou, applicants should contact: "Le Vice-President, charge de la recherche et de la cooperation internationale." For affiliations with other educational, cultural, or social institutions, applicants should contact the heads of those institutions directly. Correspondence addressed either to the University or to other institutions may be routed through the U.S. Embassy.

Applicants can contact the Acting Public Affairs Officer or the Cultural Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou for more information.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits
Award Benefits
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
  • International travel benefits
  • Accident & sickness health benefits
  • 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

2,990 monthly stipend amount in
$ [US Dollar]
One-Time Allowances

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

3,550 in
$ [US Dollar]
  • Excess baggage fees
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance
Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

TEST

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available

Burkina Faso is designated a high-threat, partially-accompanied Post (adult family members age 21 and over only).  Currently, U.S. government personnel are restricted to the capital Ouagadougou.  Fulbright grantees and their accompanying dependents will be required to adhere to the same restrictions for their safety. 

Housing Arrangements

Student are responsible for securing their own housing before arriving. The Cultural Affairs Specialist can help put them in contact with the Embassy leasing office upon request to assist with finding suitable housing.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.AF@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://bf.usembassy.gov/
Visa Requirements

Fulbrighters are responsible for obtaining their own visas before departing the United States.  Fulbrighters should obtain visas at the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington, DC.  For further information, consult the following website or email: info@VisaHQ.com.

Upon arrival, and before the entry visa expires, Fulbrighters must obtain a long-term visa (normally valid for renewable one-year periods) for the duration of their stay in Burkina Faso.  The Fulbrighter will need two identical photographs for this visa, and they should bring these photographs in their carry-on luggage.

Research Clearance

Applicants should send a letter and their resume or curriculum vitae (and French versions of both) to the Burkinabe Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, through the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington D.C., stating the field, project, period of research, and areas of Burkina Faso that will be covered by the research. Copies of these documents should also be sent to the Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy-Ouagadougou, Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440.

Security Considerations

The security situation in Burkina Faso has changed dramatically over the last several years.  Due to a fluid and rapidly changing security environment, the U.S. Embassy recommends that interested candidates consult the latest State Department guidance and Travel Advisories found by clicking here.

Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Yolande Edwige Onadja-Kabore: kaboreye@state.gov